Duck and goose decoys long have been used by hunters to lure in the real thing, but at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Florida biologists hope decoys will keep least terns from nesting in and around high public use areas of the national seashore.

The bus came to a stop on the gravel along the road. My son and I stood up, grabbed our packs from the overhead racks, and started down the aisle. The other passengers stared as we left the bus and slung our packs on our backs. They seemed surprised that anyone could get off the bus at a place like this.

The rush to the outdoors that was spurred by the coronavirus pandemic last year saw quite the incredible jump in RV sales. And, as a recent RV Industry Association survey indicated, that rush will continue this year.

Not all park forests are alike. Some forests thrive in moist, even waterlogged environments, while others flourish in much drier climates. Some forests remain green year-round while others burst with color in the fall. Some forests stand as stark testaments to the ravages of wildfires while other forests provide environments for trees to grow to mind-boggling heights and widths. All these forests and their trees flesh out the story of a national park visit and the Traveler’s contributing photographer Rebecca Latson provides example images, tips, and techniques to help you capture the forest story of your own park trip.